Blepharoplasty

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery to fix your sagging or baggy eyelids, which occurs as you get older. Sagging eyelids can make you look older, more tired, and sad. The sagging skin can also get in the way of your eyesight. Blepharoplasty may be done in a hospital or in your caregiver's office. During blepharoplasty, extra folds of skin or fat may be removed from your eyelids. At the same time, your caregiver may also fix a drooping eyelid (a condition called ptosis). He may also do other cosmetic surgeries, such as a face lift or eyebrow lift.

You and your caregiver will decide on a plan and set goals for the surgery. Blepharoplasty may help you see better if you have extra skin blocking your eyesight. It may also make the skin around your eyes smoother and less fat. With blepharoplasty, you may look younger and feel better about your appearance.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

Keep a current list of your medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Use vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.

Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him about any medicine allergies, and if you want to quit taking or change your medicine.

Eye medicines: These are eye drops or eye ointments, such as antibiotics, steroids, or fake tears. Fake tears help prevent your eyes from becoming too dry. Antibiotics fight or prevent infection caused by bacteria (germs). Steroids may help decrease inflammation, which is redness, pain, and swelling. Do not stop using antibiotics or steroids without your caregivers OK. Stopping antibiotics too early may make the medicine unable to kill all the germs. Stopping steroids without your caregivers OK can cause problems.

Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.

Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.

Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.

Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Your caregiver may check your eyelid a day after your surgery. You may need to come back to have your stitches removed.

Eye care:

You may expect to feel some soreness, itchiness, or bruising in the treated area. You may also have blurring or double vision. Your caregiver may ask you to do any of the following things to help you heal:

Use your eye medicines as ordered by your caregiver to ease red, itchy, and dry eyes. When placing an eye drop or ointment, do not let the tip of the bottle or tube touch your eye. This could scratch your eye or cause an infection. Wash your hands with soap and water before putting the medicine in your eye.

Use a cold compress (ice pack). A cold compress may help decrease swelling, pain, and bruising.

Avoid wearing your contact lenses.

Activity:

Avoid doing any heavy physical activity, including heavy lifting, bending, or squatting. Heavy physical activities may increase the pressure in your eye and may cause bleeding. Your caregiver will tell you when it's OK to be able to go back to your normal activities.

Sleep in a semi-upright position. Use pillows to raise your upper back to while you sleep.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

The skin around your eyes is itchy or swollen.

You have a rash around your eyes.

You have a fever (high body temperature) or chills.

You have blurring or double vision.

You have discharge (pus) leaking from your eye.

You have questions or concerns about your condition, medicine, or care.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.